Youth-Focused Clinic Tackles HIV Myths and Misinformation in Mozambique
“There were many teenagers and adults who denied facts about HIV. But their minds are changing now because of these adolescent and youth-friendly services.” - Martha, 19.
Zambezia, Mozambique - Delfina, 18, and Martha, 19, are waiting to see a counsellor at the clinic in Nante, laughing and joking about the latest events at school, where they are 10th-grade classmates. They first learned about the clinic from a community health worker who maintains a desk at Nante Secondary School for distributing condoms and referring students to the clinic.
The clinic, Serviços Amigos dos Adolescentes e Jovens (SAAJ), or Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services, provides free counseling and healthcare services tailored to the sexual and reproductive health needs of young Mozambicans. SAAJ clinics were set up to offer privacy, support, and appropriate services to people aged 11-24 experiencing issues relating to HIV/AIDS, contraceptives, family planning, adolescent development, and sexual violence. There are 287 standalone SAAJ clinics nationwide.
Mozambique has the third largest burden of new HIV infections in the world, and AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of death among adolescents. 35 per cent of all new infections occur in young people aged 15-24, primarily in girls and women. Every 20 minutes, an adolescent girl or young woman in Mozambique contracts HIV, with the infection rate for girls being three times higher than for boys.
Consequently, HIV prevention, testing, and treatment for adolescents are critically important for controlling the epidemic in Mozambique. SAAJ clinics are a key component of UNICEF’s contribution to the national strategy.
“I am really worried about getting HIV and will do anything to prevent getting it,” says Delfina. Both girls are attending the clinic today to learn about safe methods of contraception with the counsellor.
Pascoa Rui, 28, is a nurse and counsellor at the SAAJ clinic. Pascoa says “HIV is a big problem in this community. To prevent HIV, we do testing and give advice. We give out male and female condoms for free.”
HIV is a big problem in this community. To prevent HIV, we do testing and give advice. We give out male and female condoms for free.
There is a great deal of misinformation and skepticism, and many myths in the community about HIV. Since the clinic opened in 2021, it has become a vital source of information for the people of Nante and a corrective to the many falsehoods currently circulating. Common myths include beliefs that condoms cause HIV, mosquitoes spread HIV, sex with a virgin can cure HIV, and that HIV is a punishment for immoral behaviour.
Martha and Delfina confirm that there is much misinformation being spread about HIV in their social circles and they highlight a worrying incident with one of their friends recently.
“My friend had relations with an infected guy. She got tested, but she did not believe the positive result,” says Martha. “But we convinced her to come here and take the medication. She is doing better now.”
Delfina is thankful for the help her friend received from SAAJ. She takes an important lesson from the experience: “When you test for HIV and it is positive, you should not deny it. You should take the pills. People are dying because they don’t believe they have the disease.”
Some in the community do not accept the scientific fact that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, instead believing that powerful herbs or spiritual remedies will work.
“There were many teenagers and adults who denied facts about HIV. But their minds are changing now because of these adolescent and youth-friendly services,” says Martha, noting the impact of the clinic on misinformation in the community.
Delfina nods in agreement with Martha about this. Then, she adds:
“Before SAAJ, we saw many 13- and 14-year-olds getting pregnant. Today, we know about family planning and HIV prevention. All my friends and schoolmates have access to this information now.”
Although Martha and Delfina exemplify a confident, more open generation of young Mozambicans who are comfortable discussing issues of sexual and reproductive health, not all are as self-assured as they are. They have had to nudge and encourage some of their schoolmates to make use of the SAAJ services.
“Some of my friends are too shy to come here, but I pass the information along to them or come with them to the clinic”, says Martha. While Delfina asserts that “When I saw some friends engaging in risky behaviour, I advised my friends to come to SAAJ — and they did.”
Some of my friends are too shy to come here, but I pass information along to them or come with them to the clinic.
With impressive young people like Martha and Delfina acting as advocates, SAAJ clinics will continue to have a positive impact on communities across Mozambique and play a key role in the fight against HIV.
“Now that we have SAAJ, we are more prepared to enter sexual life without getting pregnant or HIV,” says Delfina.
UNICEF’s work on HIV prevention and care in Nante is supported by a generous contribution from USAID.
